Their host for the weekend was fellow classmate Helen Hearn (Micklethwait, DH 1992) at her luxury glamping site Penhein Glamping, on the family farm in rural Monmouthshire. 

Two years in the planning, the gathering was the brainchild of Melissa Mathur (Somerville, DH 1992) who thought it would be fun to gather the year to celebrate everyone turning 50.

Nestled in a secluded wood, Helen’s beautiful, cosy tents were kitted out with everything they needed to feel at home in the great outdoors, offering a surprisingly different camping experience. After a day of fun and games, including axe throwing and archery, the Class of 1992 gathered around the fire pit with cocktails and prosecco, funded by a grant from the DHSA. They were treated to a delicious supper and poured over photo albums of their Downe House days.

Surrounded by idyllic views and far removed from daily life, Helen’s glamping site was the perfect calm and peaceful haven in which to reconnect with friends and reminisce; strong friendships were rekindled under canvas.

Plans are already underway for their next 55th birthday reunion.

“We were so pleased to have an event of just us together (no kids, no husbands, no demands). We all declared that no one had changed one bit!” Melissa

Read more about our inspiring alumnae in our latest Cloisters magazine